Myanmar: Weapons, colonialism and Buddhist Imagery in Burmese art

Alexandra Stevenson — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 15:51:32 +0000

Paintings that depict a revolver with lipstick, and a grenade encasing a fetuses is part of a recent exhibit by Burmese artist San Minn, on display at the Suvannabhumi Art Gallery in Chiang Mai. The artist’s ‘weapon’ series is loaded with images that seem to be motivated by a strong sense of anti-violence. According to a review in Irrawaddy Magazine, the painting ‘Equal Reaction’ shows San Minn’s own spiritual influence and Buddhist beliefs - a revolver with two ends pointing in opposite directions, the ultimate visual for karma. San Minn tells journalist Kyaw Zwa Moe that a “lack of modernization was a turning point for our country.” Much of his subject matter juxtaposes this lack of modernity with imagery of British colonialism.

To see more on artist and a slide show of his work:

Explosive art from Burma, The Irrawaddy

Malaysia: Singer Rihanna’s clothes an “insult” to Asian values

Alexandra Stevenson — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 15:15:10 +0000

Malaysia’s Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, PAS, has called for a ban on R&B star Rihanna’s concert scheduled for February 13, arguing that her clothes and style are an ‘”insult” to Asian values. “Whether Rihanna realizes it or not, we know that the taxes she has paid also contributed to the war in Gaza,” said PAS member Kamaruzaman Mohamad. He went further, saying the event was “akin to insulting Eastern culture, belittling local artistes, intentionally causing losses to the country’s economy and supporting Israel’s war policy, which is supported by America.”

Via The Star Online

SlashAsia » Culture

Myanmar: Weapons, colonialism and Buddhist Imagery in Burmese art

Malaysia: Singer Rihanna’s clothes an “insult” to Asian values